Remember Charley: Be ready this storm season: Editorial

NASA handout photo shows Tropical Storm Arthur off the east coast of Florida

NASA / REUTERS

Tropical Storm Arthur is pictured off the east coast of Florida in this July 1, 2014 NASA handout satellite photo. Arthur was expected to reach hurricane strength by Thursday, dousing some July 4 holiday plans on the U.S. East Coast as officials closed beaches and tourist sites and delayed fireworks shows in anticipation of heavy rain and fierce winds. Picture taken July 1, 2014. REUTERS/NASA/Handout via Reuters (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PICTURE WAS PROCESSED BY REUTERS TO ENHANCE QUALITY. AN UNPROCESSED VERSION WILL BE PROVIDED SEPARATELY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS ORG XMIT: TOR105R ** Usable by BS, CT, DP, FL, HC, MC, OS and HOY **

Tropical Storm Arthur is pictured off the east coast of Florida in this July 1, 2014 NASA handout satellite photo. Arthur was expected to reach hurricane strength by Thursday, dousing some July 4 holiday plans on the U.S. East Coast as officials closed beaches and tourist sites and delayed fireworks shows in anticipation of heavy rain and fierce winds. Picture taken July 1, 2014. REUTERS/NASA/Handout via Reuters (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PICTURE WAS PROCESSED BY REUTERS TO ENHANCE QUALITY. AN UNPROCESSED VERSION WILL BE PROVIDED SEPARATELY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS ORG XMIT: TOR105R ** Usable by BS, CT, DP, FL, HC, MC, OS and HOY ** (NASA / REUTERS)

For months before hurricane season, and all through the summer and early fall, you'll hear numbers and predictions. There will be more hurricanes this year. There will be fewer hurricanes this year. Maybe eight. Maybe 12. Then the number goes up. Then down.

Forget all of it, and remember just one number that is important. The number one.

No matter how busy or mild the hurricane season, no matter what predictions come from where, it only takes one hurricane to do damage that can take years, if ever, to repair. It only takes one to devastate lives and communities.

That's all you should be thinking about when you hear the latest forecast for a slower than expected hurricane season. This thought shouldn't be too much of a stretch for the imaginations of those who were living in Central Florida 10 years ago today, when Hurricane Charley came roaring through, leaving destruction in his wake. As if to emphasize the point that year, Charley was followed by two more hurricanes, Frances and Jeanne.

As we enter what is usually the busy part of the hurricane season, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting a 70 percent chance of seven to 12 named storms through the rest of the season, which runs through November. Three to six of those are predicted to become hurricanes, and two are predicted to become major hurricanes.

Earlier this year, forecasters had predicted eight to 13 named storms. And yes, you can expect the current predictions and numbers to change again before November. They usually do, as atmospheric conditions change.

Those who have lived in Florida for any length of time know not to get too wrapped up in the numbers and predictions. They have been through the drill enough times to know the predictions change more often than the weather.

For those who haven't lived in the area for a long time, it is important to know that preparation is critical, no matter what kind of numbers are being tossed out by prognosticators.

This far into the season, hopefully you have done what needs to be done with your home and your roof and your shutters and your screens and the area around your home. You should know by now if everything can withstand a huge storm. You should know where your important papers are, and what kind of insurance coverage you have.

There is still time, however, to make sure you have enough batteries and water and nonperishable food items and other hurricane supplies. If everything is in order, and you have the supplies, and you have prepared, there is no need to panic. Just take all the numbers you hear with a grain of salt.

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